Administration Docket No. A, page 324, and filed at No. 1841:
Peter Miller Senr. be it remembered - - that on the 11th day of May A.D. 1841 , Letters of Administration on the Estate of Peter Miller late of Derry Township Westmoreland County Deceased, were granted to A. Armstrong Johnston, he having given bond in $1500.00 for the faithful performance of his duty as Dr. John Morrison and Michael L. Hays Sureties, Admrs. sworn before Jacob S. Stach Regr. Widows declination filed.
Westmoreland County The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to the Sheriff of Westmoreland County-Greetings: Whereas at our Orphans Court held at Greensburgh in and for the County of Westmoreland on the 22nd day of August of 1842 before the Honorable Thomas White, Esqr. President and his Associate Judges of the same court.
On the petition of Jacob Armagost, Stating that Peter Miller, late of said County, died intestate seized of two certain lots of ground adjoining each other in the Town of New Derry, Westmoreland County with a dwelling--------Black smith Shop & stable thereon erected Bounded by Liberty Street on the west, an alley on the South, lands of James Fulton on the west & by lot of John Beightel now or formerly on the North, said Intestate lea widow, Mary Ann, and issue Peter, George, Elizabeth, married to John Cummings, Henry, Catherine, married to Hugh Cannon, Margaret Married to John Goodman, Jacob, Rosanna, married to the petitioner, William, Mary Ann, married to Eli Armagost, John now dead leaving a widow, Sarah & issue two children to wit, Mary Ann, a minor of whom Peter McLaughlin is Guardian, Rebecca Jane, a minor of whom Jacob Armagost is the Guardian and prayed therefore to award an inquest to make partition of said lots if the same can be done without prejudice to or spoiling the whole if not to be ? and appraise the same according to Law.
We therefore command you as heretofore we have that taking with you twelve honest and lawful men of your bailiwick you go to and upon the premises aforesaid , and there by their oaths or solemn affirmations that you make partition thereof to and among the widow, heirs and legal representatives of said Intestate In such manner and in such proportions as by the laws of this Commonwealth is directed, if such partition can be made without prejudice to or spoiling the whole, But if partition cannot be made thereof as foresaid, then ? ,appraise the same according to law. and further that you cause the said Inquest to inquire whether the said Real Estate will conveniently accommodate more than one of the heirs or Legal Representatives of said Intestate and if so how many of the said heirs it will be conveniently accommodate. That personal notice of the time and place of holding the Inquisition to be given to all the heirs and legal Representatives of said Intestate resident of Pennsylvania by publication for four weeks in the Newspapers in Greensburgh as to where and what you make ? of your proceedings to the next Orphans Court to be held at Greensburgh in and for Westmoreland County the fourth Monday, 22nd day of May and under your hand and seal and under the hands and seals of these by whom oaths or Solemn Affirmations you shall make that partition or valuation and ? . Witness the Honorable Thomas White Esq. Resident Judge of any such Court at Greensburgh the second day of March in the year of Our Lord one Thousand eight hundred and forty three.
David Fullwood, CCR
Along with the above was the same request except dated December l, 1842 The lot was subsequently appraised for $300 This is the same lot that was given to Margaret Goodman I think.
Westmoreland Co., Pa. Vol. 47 Page 530. Greensburg, Pa.
Deed To MARGARET GOODMAN. Know all men by these presents that we, Peter Miller, George Miller, John Cummins, Henry Miller, Catharine Cannon Jacob Armagost and Roseanna his wife, Jacob Miller, Eli Armagost & Polly, his wife and William Miller. Sundry Millers et al heirs at law of Peter Miller, Dec., in consideration of the sum of one Dollar (and the fact that our father, the said Peter Miller interested in his lifetime that the following property should belong to Margaret Goodman & her children) in hand paid by the said Margaret Goodman, New Derry, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, have bargained, and sold and do hereby grant, bargain, sell and convey in fee simple unto said Margaret Goodman, her heirs & assigns forever the following premises situated in the village of New Derry in the County of Westmoreland and State of Pennsylvania all our right, title, interest, property claim and demand of late or out of a certain house and lot of ground situate, lying and being in the village of aforesaid adjoining a lot of Widow Miller on the North, James Fulton on the South, fronting on Blairsville street and running back to an alley. To Have and to Hold the said premises with the appurtenances and all right, title, claim, and interest therein unto the said Margaret Goodman, her heirs and assigns for ever. And the said heirs at law of Peter Miller, dec., for himself and his heirs doth freely covenant with the said Margaret Goodman, heirs & assigns, that they are lawfully seized of the premises aforesaid, that the premises are free and clear from all incumbrances whatever and he will forever warrant & defend the same with the appurtences unto the said Margaret Goodman, her heirs & assigns, against the lawful claims of all persons whomever. In Testimony whereof the said grantors have hereunto set their hands & seals 20th day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty six.
| Joseph Cochran | Peter Miller | Jackson Cochran |
| George Miller | Jacob Armagost | William Barnett |
| Roseanna (X) Armagost | Polly Armagost | William Miller |
| Eli Armagost | John H. Cummins | Catharine (X) Cannon |
| William Miller |
Westmoreland Co., Pa. On the 19th day of October 1860 before me one of the Justices of the Peace for said County personally came the above named John Cummins and severally acknowledged the foregoing Indenture to be their act and desired that the same might be recorded as such according to Law. In Witness Thereof I have hereunto set my hand an seal the day and year aforesaid
Daivd L. McCullough
J. Peace
Clarion Co. Pa.
On the twenty third day of August A.D. 1856 Personally appeared before me one of the Justices of the Peace in and for said County Peter Miller and George Miller Sr., Jacob Armagost, Rosannah, his wife, Polly Armagost wife of Eli Armagost and acknowledged the foregoing indenture to be their act and deed and in due form of law desired that it might be recorded as such, they, the said Rosannah Armagost & Polly Armagost, wives of Jacob Armagost and Eli Armagost, being by me examined separate and apart from their said husbands, and the contents of the said indenture fully made known to them declared that they did of their own free will and accord sign, seal and deliver the same without any coercion or compulsion of husbands. Given unto my hand and seal this 23 day of August A.D. 1856
Joseph Cochran J.P.
Westmoreland County, Pa.
On the seventh day of November 1860 before me one of the Justices of the Peace in and for said County personally came the within named Catharine Cannon and William Miller and acknowledged the foregoing Indenture to be their act and deed and desired that the same might be recorded as such according to the law. In witness thereof I have herewith set my hand and seal the day and year above written.
William Barnett
Justice of the Peace.
Recorded 19 August 1862
Margaret
Goodman of Ashland Co., Ohio sold the above property for $450.00
to John Young May 15, 1862. Mentioned is the Widow Miller (Nancy)
whose property adjoined the lot.
Book 39, page 186, 2 April 1855.
The land of the Widow Nancy Miller was bought from Hugh Walkinshaw and his wife Mary Cummins Walkinshaw. This was probably part of the original Peter Miller lands.
Hugh Walkinshaw and his wife Mary Cummins Walkinshaw, deed to Nancy Miller for $300, property fronting on Liberty Street, 66 feet and extending back 165 feet, plan of town lot 42. (Mary was the dau. of John Cummins and Elizabeth Miller.) The Nancy Miller was the widow of George Miller who also lived New Derry but as far as I can determine, these Millers are not related to my Millers.
History of County of Westmoreland by Albert - 1882. "Kingston Forge was erected in 1811 on Loyalhanna Creek by Alexander Johnston and Co. and went into operation 1812 near Latrobe on Ligonier Valley R.R. " Alexander Johnston was listed as one of the administrators of the estate of my John Miller and I think also of Peter Miller I.We know Peter Miller and John Goodman were blacksmiths so perhaps they worked at that forge --why else would Alexander Johnston be involved with their estates?
Above information generously provided by Joan Ewin and posted with her permission.